My Ebenezer

• Why Ebenezer
• Category 2
• Category 3
• Category 4
• Category 5
• Category 6
• Category 7

I just read a funny post about things that get flushed down the toilet by toddlers.

What is the strangest thing your toddler – or other child – has flushed down the toilet?

Did it actually flush?

Did it get stuck and have to be removed?

If so, how much was the repair bill?

We had a wonderful visit with GrannyJ yesterday and she brought Carter a spiderman umbrella. He LOVES having anything that is “his own” and had already eyed this umbrella at Target. Anyway, this morning as he’s playing with his umbrella, this is the conversation we had:

Carter: I thought this was for Christmas.
Me: What? The umbrella?
Carter: Yes, I thought it was for Christmas but it’s not Christmas yet.
Me: No, GrannyJ brought that to you just because.
Carter: Just because I’m GREAT!
Me: Yes, Carter, just because you’re great!

And little miss Gracey got a Disney Gracey purse with a pink cell phone and she thinks she is the cat’s meow. Her vocabulary has exploded and we have mini conversations now:

Gracey: Wa doooo-in? (what are you doing?)
Me: I’m making your lunch
Gracey: Why, mama?
Me: So you can take it to school.
Gracey: Tank you, mama
Me: You’…..
Gracey: You elcome!

Gracey: waaaaah! Waaaah! where goin? (as GrannyJ walks out the front door)
Me: She’ll be right back
Gracey: where goin’ mama?
Me: Just to move her car.

Gracey: Waaaaah! Where Gammy go? (when Grammy left the house the other day)
Me: She’ll be back soon – she had to run an errand.
Gracey: Why, mama?
Me: Seriously. You are not even two years old, you should not be asking me why yet.
Gracey: Why, mama?
Me: Ugh! Stop, Gracey. Say, “yes m’am”
Gracey: Yes! Maaa’aaam.
Me: Awwww, thank you, baby.
Gracey: Why, mama?

I’m really struggling with what to get Gracey for Christmas. Those of you with daughters, any suggestions for an almost 2 year old? Carter is getting a battery operated tractor thing he can ride on. I am tempted to get a similar ride on for Gracey even though I know she is too little to operate it now. They make one with a steering stick for parents that we could use until she gets used to it.

My other ideas for her are a kitchen or a doll house. I know she likes playing with the furniture from a dollhouse but I just don’t know if she’d REALLY play with it. Maybe this year it really doesn’t matter so much since she’d still be just as happy to play with a cardboard box. She does spend a little time with a doll house she is around about once a week. This morning, she was taking all the furniture out and opening and closing all of the little doors and drawers. Maybe I should just bite the bullet and get her a nice dollhouse for Christmas.

Here’s the dilemna, do I get her just a little dollhouse now and get the really nice one later when she’ll appreciate it more or do I go ahead and get a good one now so I don’t have to buy ANOTHER one next year? Or what about a little battery operated ride on? I know she is probably too small, but that’s what Carter is getting and she likes to do everything just like him. Maybe she’d really get into. They have some really cute smaller ones with Dora on them that would fit her perfectly – and the “go button” is on the handle bar instead of the foot pedal. Anybody have kids around two with anything like this?

UGH! I have to remind myself that she is not going to go crazy over anything at this stage. Carter, on the other hand….

Man, my posts are getting more exciting by the day, aren’t they?

Not that it helps me much with shopping for Gracey, but I have learned of a way to shop and help all at the same time. I’m sure we all know someone who has been affected by Alzheimer’s so as you start your shopping, why do purchase a holiday gift that will do a little more than cross another item off your list? We can all agree that seeking a cure to Alzheimer’s is crucial, ensuring quality care for those who suffer from the disease is also critical. The holidays are a good time to gift a donation or buy a gift from the eStore – you can purchase some beautiful jewelry that signifies the deep love and attention provided by caregivers. As it says on their site, “Caregivers of individuals with Alzheimer’s disease or related illnesses give from the deepest recesses of their hearts, inspiring the world with their courage, dedication and hope. Graceybrace the spirit. Share this inspirational heart. Show you care—about caregivers, loved ones and the cause.” All proceeds benefit the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America.

I can’t imagine having to watch a loved one suffer with this disease – and I don’t know where I’d begin to look for help. I knew a girl who graduated with me from high school who helped to care for her mother several years ago – who has since passed on from Alzheimer’s. Caring for a suffering parent or friend is difficult, especially when you are trying to manage your own family life at the same time. So as you get ready to do your holiday shopping this year, consider a holiday gift that will have a little extra meaning.

You know, it really creeps me out to think about things like this. I just can’t imagine interviewing people to care for a loved one who can no longer care for themselves. It’s hard enough to find people you trust to care for your children when you’re away, but what about when it comes to caring for adults? I’m sure it only gets more difficult.

You know, I’ve heard so many cute stories of little kids praying or saying sweet little things…..here’s my story.

Calling DaddyO (he is out of town) and leaving a message on the machine:

Me: Carter, leave a message for daddy
Carter: Daddy?
Me: Ask him if he got a deer
Carter: Did you shoot a deer, daddy?
Me: Tell him we went shopping and mommy spent all the money
Carter: (laughing) mommy spent ALLLLL the money
Me: tell him goodnight and you love him
Carter: Daddy, I love you. Goodnight!
Me: Is there anything else you want to say to daddy?
Carter: (very sweetly) yes.
Me: Okay, go ahead.
Carter:………DAMN!
Me: (grabbing the phone) oops, I sure didn’t know he was going to say that.

I’m sure the guys at the house will get a big kick out of that. I think Carter was playing with the antenna on the phone and it snapped back and popped him or something. I don’t know. He’s said it before and I’ve just ignored it, but seriously, how do you NOT laugh at that? I almost peed my pants.

I tried to explain in my sternest voice that “damn” is a bad word and one that we do not say. I told him that mommy laughed this time but next time I won’t think it’s funny. (um, yeah I will)

I don’t think he took me seriously seeing as how I was trying to contain my giggles the whole time. I have no idea where he picked that up – it really isn’t a word I use regularly. I’m blaming the “man shows” he watches with daddy. The hunting shows or car shows. I’m SURE that’s where it came from.

Although Carter’s birthday isn’t until March, I’ve been thinking lately about what kind of birthday party to give him and who to invite. For his second and third birthdays, we only invited our close friends and family and I’ve been debating about whether or not to invite some of his friends from school. Today, he got a birthday invitation in the mail from a little boy in class. His first non-family or close friend birthday party! His little eyes just lit up and he asked if tomorrow was the birthday.

So if you’ve spent any amount of time here at all, you know that I am not at all organized. My house is never clean. In fact, it is usually more than just “not clean”. Disorganized – we spend more time looking for shoes than we do shopping for them. We tend to be packrats and pile things on top of things around here.

Something crawled up my wahooo and I got started cleaning, sorting and organizing today and just couldn’t stop. I was more productive during my few hours away from the kids than I have been the entire school year. You should see my office floor! I mean, you can really SEE MY OFFICE FLOOR. I actually forgot there was carpet under there. I even went through several boxes of stuff that have been boxed up for three years and threw a ton of it out. I’m probably a little more than halfway done in here and it’s killing me knowing it isn’t finished and I’m not working on it. (but it’s right next to Carter’s room and I don’t want to risk waking him)

Yesterday, I started organizing the kitchen cabinets.

What. is. wrong. with. me. ??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????

Hey, anyone who knows me IRL have a Costco membership? There’s something I need to buy there and if I buy a membership it will kind of defeat the purpose of buying it there because it’s cheaper.

Then again, I guess that IS kind of the point.

My initial excitement/worry/fear/hope of the baby news has subsided and I am able to think much more clearly now. Taking a step back and looking at the situation is always helpful for me, even when it is entirely out of my control!

First off, we are assuming that there is, in fact, a pregnancy. I’m not sure when or if that can even be confirmed until biomom starts showing. So going forward with that assumption, here are the possible scenarios:

A – biomom and/or baby test positive for drugs at birth, CPS is called and custody is immediately taken
B – no drugs in system but someone alerts CPS to the fact that a baby has been born to a biomom who has had rights terminated on two other children, CPS immediately takes custody because of the risk factor

Now, assuming A or B occurs, then:

1 – us or our agency is called since we are linked to this biofamily in the CPS records because we adopted the siblings
2 – CPS overlooks the files and places baby with another family

Obviously, if A or B happens then we are praying 1 will also happen. And it should. Once custody of this child is taken away, I do know that the process that follows will be different than it was before. No services will be offered which means bio parents will have no plan to work to try and regain custody. They would be assigned a court appointed lawyer and could work with that lawyer to fight the court for custody but they’d have little or no chance of that happening.

Keep in mind that nothing has changed for the birthparents. Their situation and their circumstances are much the same as they were when the rights were originally terminated. Should they be able to prove otherwise, then they would have a chance to regain custody of the new baby. But it won’t happen. And it shouldn’t happen.

I feel for them – I really, really do. I can’t imagine the heart ache of losing a child all over again, but it’s not them I’m thinking about. I can’t think about them because they are capable of thinking of themselves. It’s the children I’m concerned for. It’s the baby growing inside her that matters now. That child is more than likely already being abused. I pray for God’s protection on that baby.

It’s an awkward and uncomfortable situation for everyone, I’m sure. But I keep thinking about the baby. That baby deserves to have someone eager for his/her arrival and already willing to prepare a place for him/her. Maybe we’ll never even meet that baby, but that’s okay. I’ll be alright with that. But if we do have another child out there that is meant to be ours, I don’t want to miss one day of loving him/her…one day of anticipating him/her.

Does that make any sense at all?

I mean, it’s crazy, really. We aren’t even absolutely positive that there is a baby at all. And even if there is, biomom could leave biodad and we’d never know what happens unless baby is born positive for drugs. And I won’t wish for that.

There is no way of knowing what the future holds; but I do know Who holds our future and that is enough for me.

With a title like that, it’s got to be a good post, right?

We were staying with Granny at the lake last night and Carter and I were sharing a room. I hadn’t been feeling great all evening – even think I had a fever for a bit – but nothing too major. Carter woke up about 1am and was scared because he didn’t recognize where he was. I talked to him for a minute and then realized I’d better get to the bathroom, and fast.

I told Carter I’d be back in a minute and not long after getting there I heard the pitter patter of his feet coming towards me. Granny’s bedroom is right next to the bathroom and the walls are VERY thin so we were trying to whisper and be quiet. It’s difficult to have a conversation like this one quietly, though.

Carter: Mommy, are you gonna poo?
Me: Mommy’s tummy is feeling a little sick, baby.
Carter: Are you gonna make DIARRHEA?
Me: I think so
Carter: Can I see it?
Me: You will certainly get to smell it sitting at my feet that way.
Carter: Oh, Mommy! I want to SEEEEEE it. (trying to pry my butt off the pot)
Me: Carter, we have to wait for it.

Suddenly, my stomach makes the loudest gurgling noises I’ve ever heard.

Carter:(eyes wide as saucers) Was THAT your TUMMY?
Me: Yes, that was my tummy – it’s not feeling very good.
Carter: It sounds MAAAAAAAAAD!
Me: Well….
Carter: oh! I just heard you poo, mom and it wasn’t diarrhea!
Me: Yes, well, maybe my tummy is feeling better.

brief pause

Carter: EEEEWWWW! THAT sounded like serious diarrhea!
Me: Yep, it sounds serious alright.
Carter: Does your tummy feel better, mommy?
Me: Not yet.
Carter: Go some more, mommy, it will help.
Me: Thanks, Carter.
Carter: WOW! That sure is some diarrhea! It’s stinky.
Me: You could always go back to bed.
Carter: No, mommy, I don’t want to leave in here by yourself.

Carter: It’s time to wipe your butt, mom.
Me: um, no, not quite.
Carter: You mean there’s MORE diarrhea?
Me: I think so, baby.
Carter: gagging, Mommy, it REALLY stinks.
Me: Almost done.
Carter: Mommy, paaahhhlleeeeease wipe your butt so we can get out of here!

I can only be grateful that this little encounter happened in private and not in a public restroom. The worst part was that after we got back to bed it took him about an hour to go back to sleep. After about 15 minutes, I really needed to revisit the bathroom but knew he would come with me and take even longer to get back to sleep so I waited. And prayed. And waited some more. Finally, when I was sure he was asleep, I tiptoed back to the bathroom.

Now, aren’t you glad you read this blog? I decided to give “potty talk” it’s own category since i end up writing about it so often.

"Samuel took a single rock and set it upright between Mizpah and Shen. He named it Ebenezer (Rock of Help), saying, This marks the place where GOD helped us."

1 Samuel 7:12 The Message

Adoption

• Our adoption story from beginning to end

Search

Search for: